Boy accidentally breaks 3500-year-old Middle Bronze Age pitcher at Israeli museum

A four-year-old boy has accidentally knocked over and broken a 3500-year-old pitcher dating back to the Middle Bronze Age at a museum in Israel.

The Hecht Museum in Haifa confirmed the incident happened a few days ago.

"There are cases in which display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated very seriously, including police involvement — in the current case it was not the case," the museum said.

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"The pitcher was hit by a young boy who visited the museum and the treatment will be accordingly."

The ancient artefact has been on display at the museum's entrance after it was discovered during an excavation perfectly intact — an impressive feat for local archaeologists.

The pitchers, which were designed to store and transport wine and olive oil, is dated to between 1500 and 2200 BC.

Conservation efforts are already underway to restore the archaeological find.

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"Because there is photographic documentation of the pitcher and in light of the introduction to the shape of the pitcher, in a short time the pitcher will return to its place," the museum said.

"The Hecht Museum will take the opportunity to document the healing work, so that it can also be presented to the public - so that soon you can see the pitcher again, and also the work that made it possible to 'rescue'."

The boy's father Alex told the BBC he was relieved to learn the item could be restored but is sorry that "it will no longer be the same".

Hecht Museum said it puts an emphasis on making archaeological items accessible to the public and often present items without divisions or glass walls.

It said it will continue the tradition, despite the "rare case" of the pitcher breaking.